Control gear for washing machines



June 11, 1929.] w, BANKS'ET AL 1.716379 CONTROL GEAR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 51. 1926 I 4 Sheetssheet N l INVENTORS 1 W m It: a 7.

June 11, 1929. w, BANKS -rAL 1,716,679

CONTROL GEAR FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 31. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS June 11, 1929. s ET AL 1,716,679

CONTROL GEAR 'F'OR WASHING $81838 7 Filed July 31. 1926 4 sheet -sheet a 'z Tai s Carlin/or 00 /7 and/1's.

Cour/70L DlPll/IL-B vA mm norm- June 11, 1929. w,' AN s ETAL common emu won same genus Filed July 31 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J "M 1 "0 R P W ME PWHW o q Patente d ilune 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BANKS, Of KENDAL, AND. WILFRID BROOKE, F ALTRINCHAM, ENGLAND, A SS IGN OBS TO ISAAC BRAITHWAITE SON, ENGINEERS LTDQOF KENDAL,- ENG- CONTROL GEAR FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application iiled July 31, 1926, Serial No. 126,245, and in Great Britain August 20, 1925.

This invention relates to control gear for reversing electric motors applied to the driving of machines with frequently reversing rotary or reciprocating parts more particularly to machines such as washing machines in which a rotary'member is operated in one direction for a predeterminednumber of rotations and automatically reversed and similarly rotated in the reverse direction I The invention comprises in combination with the motor and the-machine a rotary control drum or discs continuously rotated in one direction by a pilot motor, a start ng resistance in connection therewith, amaster contactor on which the whole of the breaking of the current will take place, a iiiaster controller by which the starting, stopping and inching or positioning of the rotor of the machine will be effected and mechanism by which thema'chine will be finally stopped with the rotary or reciprocating member in a predeterminedor desired position. The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings; -Fig. 1'. Elevation from back of rotary washing machine with the invention applied 1 Fig.3.

6. Wiri di gram and contacts for 'd ivinga number of machines from. a single thereto. 1

'Fig. 2. End elevation showing the main or master controller F, the inching or position ng mechanism for the rotor, and stop to prevent the door of the casing being opened' a i a Front elevation of the rotary con- 1 F and a retaining resistance.

- Y The master controller F comprises a rotrolleror control drum ]3 and pilot motor.

Fig. 4. End elevation of same.

'Fig. 5. Wiring diagramand contactsfortact'segments G co-acting with contact finautomat-iccontrol and inching.

continu'ouslyrotarypilot motor E through shaft T.

', Fig. 7. Dctail view of the electro-magneti-u cally operatedclutch for use on-shaft T.

Fig. 8.' Front elevation of the master controller F partly in section.

Fig. 9. Transverse section of same. The washing machine is of'ordinary con- The electric control apparatus or drum B by which the main motor is reversed or with gearing driven in one direction for a number of revolutions and then in the reverse. direction for a similar number of revolutions comprises a plurality of disc contacts 0, mounted Y on a spindle Y and rotated continuously in 'one direction, while the machine is running, by-a small pilot motor E and a corresponding with a corresponding number of contact fingers D.

The starting resistance K may be of any known form and is brought into the circuit by the rotary control drumB as the current to the motor A is reversed.

The master contactor or clapper switch I M is electrically operated and is controlled by the rotation of the control drum B the current being cut off from it and allowing a it to open prior to the reversing of the current to-the main motor A.

It comprises a hinged member m which establishes contact with a stationary member m. under. the influence of a closing coil tary spindle or drum with a number of congers .H and may be rotated by a handle R to take up one of-two positions run, and

positioning or stop to establishconnectionsfor the' startingoperation's and for the positioning and. stopping operations respectively by whichthe machine is brought to rest with the 'rotar-y or recilprocatin'g'member always in thesame desire position. 1 f

The operating handle R is mountedloosely on the spindle 82 and fitted with a sliding struction with outer stationary casing and a'tch 83 to engage a notch 84 in a -disc 85 ast on'the spindle. A latch Sl is pivoted in a suitable position as shown, for the purposeof disengaging the lever B from the disc 85 when the operationjs in the contrary dir ction to the arrow shown in Fig.8 which indicates the direction for stopping. This engagement is effected by a projection on catch 83 riding over latch 81 and effecting disengagement with the disc 85. When lever B is moved in the opposite direction it will re-engage with the disc 84 by reason of catch 83 dropping into notch 84, and when moved to its extreme position in that direction it will not disengage disc 85 as the projectionon catch 83 would pass under the latch 81 which, being hinged, will lift up instead of allowing the projecting catch to ride over it as described in reference to the stopping direction.

The disc 85 is connected by a rod or link to a lever W Fig. 2 which may take up either of three positions in respect to the notched cam wheel V which is attached to'the rotor or reciprocating member of the machine. Whenthe handle R is in its first position, namely, the starting position, it takes up a position on the extreme left in reference to Fig. 2, in which posit-ion the lever W is lifted clear of the cam wheel V. When the handle is moved to the second position, namely, positioning or stopping, it is on the extreme right as drawn in Fig. 2,-but in this position is disengaged from the disc 85 in the manner already described, and whilst in this position the lever \V 'will take up either of two positions, depending on the position of the notch W in'cain wheel V in its point of revolution. The lever W which is preferably provided with a roller, may thus rest upon the rim of the cam wheel V, which operation provides the necessary connections in the master controller F for the purpose of positioning or initiating the slow speed movement which ultimately brings the machine to rest at a predetermined point of its revolu- I tion. The remaining position taken up by lever W is thus shown in Fig. 2 when the depression in the wheel V enables lever W totake up this further position. This is referred to as the off position in which positionv the master controller switches off all the circuits previously'made. It will thus be understood that whilst the spindle or drum .attached to disc 85 can take up either of three positions, the operating handle only takes up two positions as described, the starting posi-' tion being initiated by the operator whilst the final stopping'position is initiated by the machine in the manner described. Attached to the lever W is also a rod for allowing a brake to be operated on the motor A by means of the spring shown, when the pre-determined stopping position as shown in Fig. 2

' only has been reached. In all other positions of lever W the brake is released.

A safety catch Z is fittedto or connected with the lever W which engages with a raised portion or rib on the door U of the machine and prevents the opening of the doorbefore the current is cut off and the motor stationary and locked in position and also prevents the switching on of the current and starting of-the motor, while the door of the machine is open. By this construction a single control lever B may control all the operations of the machine.

In operation when the lever B of the master controller F is brought into position for starting and running of the machine the main contacts G, G, G come into contact with their respective contact fingers H, H H thereby starting the pilot motor E and controller drum B in the direction of the arrow Fig. 5, bringing the several contacts C, C et ance K and starting the motor A and the moving part of the machine.v The current passes from the source of supply L and contact finger H through contact G on master controller F, contact G finger H connection 3 4 through motor regulating resistance to connection 5 and source of supply L The shunt'field of pilot motor E being permanently energized from L through a field. resistance through field E to L thus the pilot motor 00111111011005 to rotate and revolves the control drum B in the direction of the arrow, so that its contact fingers C, C et cetera cooperate in connection with their respective contact fingers D D et cetera.

On the first movement of the control drum B, contacts 0 make contact with fingers D D and contacts C establish contact with 'fiiigers D D, and the path of the main cur- .particularly arranged to close after an open before the drum contacts are made and broken thus entirely eliminating arcing on the drum contacts, this is a particular feature of our invention. A slight further movement of the control drum B in the direction of the arrow brings contacts C in co-operation with com tact fingers D, D, D and D". This establishes a separate circuit from supply' L contact finger H on master controller F, through contact G, G finger, H contact finger D, on control drum B, contact C, contact finger D to contactor coil 14 to 13 and source of supply L thus closing the contacts of the master contactor M and completing the main motor circuit as described through its full starting nected when the master contactor M is open,

or the motor may be provided witha series or compound winding.

A further movement of the control drum B brings (Pinto contact with l) and 1.)", thus short eireuiting a portion of the starting resistance 7", I)" and speeding up the main motor. The short circuit-iug of this portion of the starting resistance is completed by two contacts in master switch F marked G and (l. which cooperate with contacts H and H only in the run'nim position. .Th-is arrange.- ment has for its ()ltjfit'l] the provision ofinore latitude for any slight overrun or inconsisteneyin the stopping position of the pilot motor where it becomesswitched off for inchmg or positioning in the manner previously described. If during such stopping the pilot motor overruns to a position wlnelrwould normally, short circuit this resistance divi- .sion it is prevented from doing so when the master controller F is in its inching or positioning position. and instead of this overrun resulting in the alterationof the resistance values and in consequence the-speeds of the positioning operation, it does not produce such undesirable effect. This further move, ment of the control drum B causes the short contacts C" to become out of contaetwith fingers D and D" in all but the predetcn mined stoppingor positioning position of the controldrmu B. The opening of C, D cuts off the normal feed circuit of contactor 0 erating coil 13", which has an alternative eed circuit' through retaining resistance 14", contacts I), C, D, H G in master controller and contact G finger H and sup 1y L. This causes the contactor to be wea ly energized sufliciently so to retain it in the closed position.

I n case the master controller is switched off and then switched on simultaneously, the contact-or coil circuit will become opened and aft erwards reclosed. As the .coutactor itself will have become opened, it will be unable to reclose on the establishment of the weak ex-- citation provided by the retaining circuit until the control drum turns round to the pre-- determined position, in which position only is the retaining circuit short circuited and full.

excitation of the contactor established through the master controller. Further movement of'the control drum B brings con tact C to finger D, and D", thus shortcircuiting a further portion 'of the starting resistance 10 and 66 of the starting resistance K and in like manner contacts G? co-operate with fingers D" and D and cuts out the remaining portion of the starting resistance 10,

1) thereby bringing the main motor to its full speed. The main motor thus continues to run at its full speedjfor a certain predetermined period or cycle, as determined by the speed of the control drumB and the length of its contacts,after which thevmaster contactor M becomes opened by its operating coil circuit being opened at contacts D and D from cont-acts C thus cutting off the supply to the main motor A. The contactson the drum forming the armature connections are broken slightly later than the opening of contactor M by the suitable timing of the contacts in order to ensure that no main current is broken onthe drum contacts, as it is a particular feature of our invention that the contacts on the drum closc earlicr and open later than the master eontactor M in order that all making and breaking is carried out; by the latter as already described.

As drmn ltcontinues to revolve in the direction shown by the arrow in' Fig. 5, the reverse cycle which causes motor A' to start up in the reverse direction is as follows :Con-

tact slides under contact. D, D and D,

.D starting resistance 7, 68 to M on master contact M,M and L'-"on the closure of contactor M, which is timed to close after the above described circuit has been otherwise established as described.

, It will thus be observed that the direction of current'thronglrthe main motor armature Alias been reversed and it commenced to operate in the reverse direction.

The closing circuit of contactor M is similar to that described in connection with the forward direction, the circuit being as fol- 1ows:supply L contact finger H on master controller F, through contact G, G, finger HF, D on control drum B, C, D contact-or coil 14" to 13 and source of supply L, thus closing the contacts of the mastercmitactor M otherwise as described. movement of control drum B brings G into contact with D and D, thus short circuitin a portion of the starting resistance 7 D an speeding up the main motor. The remaining sections of starting resistance are cut out precisely as described in connection with the. forward direction, and the main motor continues to revolve for a similar period of time in the reverse direction. On the continued rotation of the drum, the circuit is again opened at the master contactor M and following the arrangement of the forward connections on the drum, the master contactor again closes and thus the mainmotor carries out its cycle of starting up and running first in one direction and then in the other direction for equal periods of timc,the master controller remaining in the starting sition during the whole of this operation. The rest. of the run- The furthermature circuit becomes interruptedbetwcen contact G and finger H in the master con.- trollcr, and the master contactor M becomes opened by reason of its attracting coil circuit being interrupte'dby contact Gr and finger H in the master controller F. The circuit of the main motor is ,thus opened and themain supply tothe pilot motor is interrupted as described. The pilot motor armature has, however, an alternative supply through finger D contact C finger D and source of supply U, which causes the pilot motor to During this operation the master controller" continue to operate until the control drum B is brought to a certain predetermined position. This predetermined position is preferably that in which the whole of the starting resistance is in circuit and the armature circuit of the-main motor also established and finally completed on the closure of contactor M. The wiring diagram Fig. 5 shows the contacts of the control drum B in this predetermined stopping position.

The pilot motor E is prevented from overrunning this predetermined position after its supply circuit hasbecome interrupted by preventing the drum contacts C cutting out a section ofthe starting resistance if it should come in co-operation with contact finger D on the control drum B'due to this circuit being interrupted in the master switch in any but the running position as has already beendescribed.

As a further means of guarding against any tendency of the pilot motor E to overrun this predetermined position, it would be noted that two contacts 0, connected together, have been provided on the control drum B co-operating with contact fingers D, and D for the purpose of short circuiting the armature of the pilot motor E if-any tendencyto overrun the predetermined-stopping'position takes place, this provides a dynamic brake for the pilot motor E as will 'be understood by those skilled in the art.

drum fingers will occupy either the position ing or stop positions depending at what point of its movement the revolving portion of the washing machine stops with reference to the notch w in the cam wheel V Figs. 1

' and 2 in respect to the operating mechanism of the master controller. Assuming it takes u the'rpositioning position, the-slow speed diverter resistance becomes connected in I parallel with the armature of the main motor A by means of connection from theresistance mentioned to finger H onmaster controller, contact G, contact finger Hand source of supply L in the manner otherwise as already described. Immediately-upon the control drum B arriving at the pro-determined position as shown by its contacts in Fig. 5 the master contactor M becomes automatically closed by means of its operating coil by the circuit as follo\vs:.source of supply L finger H in master controller F, contact G, G, finger H to drum controller finger D", contact C, finger 'D contacto'r operating coil 14;, 13 to source of supply L The circuit of-the slow speed diverter resistance L having already been established by the master controller F in the manner described, the-main motor is thus permitted to revolve at a slow speed and becomes automatically stopped when the rotary member of the washing machine arrives at a'ccrtain pro-determined position, as indicated by the notch'lV in the cam wheel V on Fig. 2, at which point the master controller becomes automatically switched oif in'the manner already described. On the c'ompletionof this operation of positioning, the final movement of the mastercontroller spindle brings contact G into co-operation with finger H on master controller which completes the circuit to an indicating lamp, 1*, or other device, which indicates that the machine is stopped in. a safe position and that the doors or other means of access in the machine'may be opened.

Other contacts. and fingers are shown in the master controller at G, G and fingers H, H -and contacts G ,.G and fingers H, H. These contacts co-operate respectively with their corresponding fingers only in-the inching or stopping position. The former are provided for the purpose ofadjusting the values of.the slow speed diverter resistance when re uired to meet heavy torque conditions wit out interfering witlrthe values of the main starting resistance, in order that the slow Speeder-positioning conditions may be made. without compromising the starting conditions. Contacts G, G and fingers H, H

in the master switch are also only established in the inching or stopping positions and are intended for the purpose of ensuring that the dynamic. braking circuit of the pilot motor is only operative under stopping conditions and thus prevent any possibility of short circuiting the pilot motor armature under any running conditions. .These operations will be understood by those-skilled in the art'. XM are the external main connections and XS the external shunt connections.

, Itinay be desirable to control a group of machines from one controlling equipment where the motors operating such machines function quite separately, but are under one single control equipment. It is intended that these machines may be started or stopped quite independently of oneanother, exactly as would be the case if they were operated fromindividual controlling equipments of the type already described. Fig; 6 shows a wiring diagram of such an arrangement; for

the controlling of two machines.

v This equipment comprises a pilot motor E which is started up by means ofa double pole switch S and rotates continuously 'along shaft T. Drum controllers B, B are located with their operating spindles perpendicular to the shaft T from which they are driven by a suitable gearing of the bevel, worm or other type VA, VB. These control drums B, li along with their contactors. M -M aresumlar in general details and princi ple to "the single equipments already described, and need no special description here as far as the general principle being described is concerned. The main washing machine motors A A= are understood tobe separate machines, entirely unconnected, and are each intended to be controlled by their respective master controllers F, F in a manner which will be readily understood. I

The carrying out of our invention in respect to this applicationvvaries from the one described for the single equipments only in that means. are provided for mechanically clutch mg or de-clutehing the individual control drums B, B to or from the common revolyingspindle T as desired, which operation 1s initiated from the respective master controllers, whereas in the single equipments the stoppingand starting of the control drum 7 B is efi'ected by thestopping and starting of the p1lot motor. As, however, in the multiple controlled equipment now being described, it will be understood that the starting and etc ping of the pilot motor has iven place to t e contriving of separateclutc ing mechanisms in order to allow the controlling of the other machines to be continued whilst any particular one is being stopped and the operations of positionin carried out. Electro-ma eticale ly'operate clutches are provided w ich-are incorporated with-the gearing at VA VB, such as shown at more detail in Fig. .and

' which are disconnected by the master controllers F, F, et cetera.

..i!!g thr0ugh a slot 21 in the shaft gage a notch in the boss of the worm v glgeel The magnetic clutch shown in 7 is intended for use with shaft T of Fig. 6, when a number of machines are connected with. a

single continuously rotating pilot motor E an "shaft T. It comprisesa-worm VA,'worm wheel VB- loose .on the shaft W of the control drum B journalled in a bracket 20. A sliding stud 22 is fitted into a'recess in the end of the shaft W forced'outwards by a spring 2&, a pin 23 is fitted therein 'roject to enor a corresponding notch 27 in the l tracted, pushin the ing bracket 20. The bracket also forms an cleetro-magnet Q, with coils 25 andiarmature 26 the armature being extendedjtofiengage the end of the sliding stud 22. In the-position shown the shaft W rotates with the wormwheeL- On demagnetizin the magnet the sliding stud 22 will be fore back by the spring and the pin 23 through the slot 21, to engage the notch 27 inthe bracket 20.

It will be understood, however, from the drawing that this complete disengagement can only become accomplished when the notch in the boss of the worm wheel, (in which position it is shown) comes opposite the notch 27 in the bearingibracket 20, so that whilst the magnet 25 may be de-energized at any particular point of rotation of drum controller shaft \V, the disengagement between the worm'wheel VB and the shaft canonly take place at a definite point as determined by the axial position of the notch 27 in the hear- -ing bracket 20. When this dis-engagement takes place the driving member or pin 23 takes up its position on the extreme left of slot 21 and engages in the notch 27 in the hearing bracket 20. The controller drum B is thus securcly held in this position by slot 27 and driving member or pin 23 in stud 22.

This pres-determined stoppin position is the I that when the shaft W is being clutched into engagement with worm wheel VB there shall be no possibility'ofthe driving member 23 becoming jammed hetweenthe stationary hearing bracket 20 and the revolving worm wheel VB. The direction of rotation of the worm wheel is indicated by the arow in Fig. 7.

' When shaft W is being reclutched into motion with the worm wheel VB, the ma net. 25 is reenergized and the armature 26 comes atsliding stud 22 against the influence 0 spring 24 and the driving member or pin 23 becomes moved. across the slot. 21 from left to right and can only complete its travel across the slot 21 when the notch in the worm wheel comes opposite notch 27 in the bearing bracket 20.

ReferringntoFig. 6 the-scheme of connections has been completed to one of the controllersonly. .It is understood for the pur oses ofour illustration that the other control rum contacts D, Det cetera with their main motors and master controllers F are similarly connected. Assuming that the control drum mg utilized for breaking themam current B is stationary by reason of its having become declutched from the spindle T (which we assume to be revolving continuously) operatcd by the pilot motor E with the switch S inthe closed position, and also the motor A is operating a washing machine or other similar machine, operated by the master controller 1*, which is intended to be mounted on the machine, the handle it of the master controller would be moved to the starting position in which the contacts are there shown. .111 this position current-will enter the master controller from source of supply L through linger H, contact G, contact G linger ii to clutch magnet operating coil ell", connection 42 to source of supply If' The clutch magnet winding is also shown at Fig. 7 reference 25. On thisoclutch magnet becoming energized, the armature 26 becomes attracted and the clutch mechanism is brought into engagement with worm wheel VB, also Fig. 7 in the manner described, which causes the master.

control drum 1& to revolve. This proceeds to carry out the starting and reversingoperations of the main motor A contactor M beekaetly inthe same manner as previously described.

Whilst the master controller is in the running position as shown in Fig. 6 the motor A will continue to carry out this cycle of operations of starting and running alternatively in this disconnection does not become efiective until the control drum arrives at a certain pre-determined position, preferably with its contacts as already shown in the diagram. This corresponds to the slot in the worm wheel boss in Fig. 7 becoming opposite the slot 27 in the fixed bearing bracket 20 which enables the spring 24 to push the engaging member '23 fixed to sliding stud 22.out of engagement with the worm wheel VB. The shaft W thereupon ceases to revolve and is held'in the desired position by the'engaging member 23 entering the slot 27 on the fixed bearing. bracket 20. When the operation is complete, the slow speed connections comprising the inching or positioning circuit become estab: lished precisely as before described and the moving element of the washing machine is slowly revolved until it reaches a certain predetermined position where access can be gamed to the doors and the-internal element as hereinbefore described.

On arriving at this position, the master con-.

troller F becomes moved to its final position, i

which opens the contactor M cutting ofif current to motor A and lighting safety signal the revolving element of the ma chine, thus applying the brake to the spindle ol' the driving motor, and also releasing the mechanical in 'l-OllOCkS to enable the sliding doors U to be opened by sliding upwards, also substantially as described.

Whilst the foregoing description relates to our invention as applied tocontinuous current motors it may equally well be applied to motors or alternating current circuits as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

The invention though primarily designed for washing machines may be applied to other machines with reversing parts either rotary or reciprocating such as shirt, collar and c'uif ironing machines with a reciprocating table, drying and other tumbler machines, rotary dyeing washing and scouring machines, reciprocating machine tools, mixing machines and the like. p

What we claim as our invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. 111 a motor controller. adapted to carry out periodic reversals in the direction of retation of a washing machine the combinatioirwitl 'a continuously rotating motor of means operated by the motor for periodically reversing the machine and-a controller capable of slowing down or stopping the machine .40 on the cam-wheel V, which is-integral with in a predetermined position when the machine is travelling n either directlon, a manually operated handle on the controller capable of occupying one of two extreme positions by which starting and stopping is initiated and means associated with the controller for automatically starting, slowlng down and finally stopping the machine in the predeter-.

mined position after initiation by the controller.

2'. Control gear for reversing electric washmg machine motors after a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction and subsequently stopping them in a, given'position, comprising arotary disc-control drum, 1:. pilot motor to continuously rotate the control drum in one direction, an electrically operated switch in the circuit and a coil for operating the switch whereby the whole of the breaking of the current will be efiected by the switch, a master controller only operatedduring starting and final stopping of the machine, a spindle therein, contact segments on the spindle, a disc carried by. the spindle and engaged by the handle when movlng in one direction but disengaged therefrom when moving'in the reverse direction, a cam switch operated by the handle through the disc when .matically to rest with'the.rotary cage in a the handle is moving in the first mentioned direction and a mechanical brake applied by the cam switch to bring the machine autodefinite predetermined position.

i 3. Control gear for reversing electric washing machine motors after a predetermined number of revolutions in either direction and subsequently stopping them in a given position comprising a rotary disc control-drum, a pilot motor to continuously rotate the control drum in one direction, an electrically operated switch .in the circuit and a coil for operating the switch whereby the whole of the breaking of the current will be efiected by the switch, a master controller only operated during starting and, final stopping of the machine, a spindle, therein,,contact segments on the spindle stationary contact fingers engaged by the contact segments on rotation of the spindle, a handle capableof occupying one of two positions loose on the spindle, a

our hands this 20th day of disc'carried by the. spindle and engaged by the handle when moving in one direction but disengaged therefrom when moving in the reverse direction, a notched cam on the shaft of the rotary member of the machine, a lever linked w' the disc, :1. further lever controlled by th c 180 to engage the notch in the cam to initiate the slow speed movement which finally brings the machine to rest, and

a mechanical brake applied by the disc to bring the cage to rest in a definite predetermined position.

4. In a washing machine the combination with the control gear claimed in claim 1 of a safetycatch to prevent the opening of the lid while the machine is running, and to prevent the starting of the machine while the lid is open.

Intestimony whereof we have hereunto set July,'1926.

W.- BANKS.

W. BROOKE. 

